THE COVINGTON NEWS
VOLUME 52, NUMBER 33.
■*
SOLDIER OF SIXTIES
MAKES STIRRING
Xot For Money, But For
Is The Keynote of His Message.
Mr. Editor:
A few years ago the Georgia Legis
Liture.by a two-thirds majority, passed
a law putting the veterans who had
hoen excluded from a pension on ac¬
count of his property, on the same
footing with those who had been draw¬
ing pensions. The people at the next
election voted upon it and gave a con¬
siderable majority in its favor, thus
making it a part of the Constitution of
the state of Georgia.
A few days ago the present House
now in session, voted to rescind that
lav and do away with that part of the
Constitution, granting pensions to the
last class of Pensioners.
A few days ago, The Constitution, a
newspaper published in Atlanta had a
long editorial praising the act of the
present House for what they did to re¬
peal the law; also it had much to say
in regard to the playing of politics
of former legislatures in passing bills
and pandering to old veterans to get
their influence in elections. Nfat a
word did that editorial say about those
legislators raising their tax Diem twice
what it had been in the past to do three
or four hours work in the day—neither
did it say a -word about the judges
salaries being raised, when by examin¬
ing the judicial circuits, the most of
them are not engaged in their work
more than three or four months dur¬
ing year. The same can be said of
Various other offices in the state. There
numerous men all over the state
drawing big salaries to pretend to do
something that is not worth a farthing
to the state or people. There are some
in Newton county that belong to that
class, and if what some of the weeklv
papers say is true, our officers made
and paid for past favors performed for
officers higher up in the State. The
old veterans of the class of pensioners
whom they propose to cast off, care lit
tic for the pittance the state might give
|iis, but it is the method by which they
propose to get shead of us; to dump ns
aside as old junk of a worn out rail
load. As a general thing the class they
propose to junk are the men that did
the brunt of the fighting.. They stood
'nr four long years between Georgia
lnd her enemies, fighting as best thev
oulii for the rights of the State of
Georgia. The writer of this article
served the south for three and one
alf years and and lay in prison for
line long months. Not one dollar did
e ever receive from the Confederacy
s compensation for his service. We
had no tents to protect us from the
fain, sleet and snows. Often my com¬
ade. Thomas Speer and myself, after
a hard day’s fighting, or a long days
narch, would lie down to rest with one
lanket between our bodies and the
round and two blankets and the Hea¬
rns for a covering. Next morning we
’ould probably wake up with several
nehes of snow on top of us. What
'lothing we wore, our mothers had
ade for us at home. What money we
aad to spend, our fathers and mothers
fat to us.. When we drew a certain
umber of days rations, we usually got
half rations. About half the time we
ived on parched corn and thought it
,uite a luxury. No doubt some of those
egislators now in Atlanta have been
■'Moying homes and property that
(hose old Vets protected to the best of
Mr ability, when old Sherman and his
orde marched through Georgia, burn
|u£ and pillaging; probably some of
''use same legislators are descendents
' that same crowd that followed old
herman through Georgia. If they are
hey have no interest in Confederate
eterans. There has been no justice
! the way pensions have been given
n the State of Georgia. I know one
ar ty that deserted his company. After
he war he was blown up in a well
ud lost his eyesight. He applied for
Pension. He received it and drew it
s Mg as he lived. Another party that
48 nev er in the army, lost an arm in
M, and bv some hocus pocus, receiv
0ne hundred dollars a year as a vet
lan when he had never been in the
Two men went through the
' > from Newton One of
county.
every duty he could. When
ma de a good soldier. The othar
'J came home after the war, the one
at ma de a good soldier went to work,
some property and could never
H a Pension, because he paid taxes
“ r $1,500.00. The party that
! :i K ‘ d all his duties in the when
C army,
m home, spent his time gambling
np RToes. drinking and selling
.
j (,U0T 11 f>t when the state began giv
^ ) ‘ ns ’°ns, he
was one of the first
®hl'h, he got it and drew it as long
s h'ed. Let
«n us remain on the pen
roll and if the state is not able
av ’’ f ' r V year tell
In us so. Don’t
the rnudho'es like they would i
DISTRICT MEETING
CLOSED
The meeting of the Oxford District
came to a close Friday afternoon, af¬
ter a two day’s session.
The services were held at the First
Methodist church, which had been
beautifully adorned for the occasion.
Rev. AY. G. Crawley presiding elder,
presided.
Sermons were delivered by Rev.
Guy Pittman, of Eatonton; S. G. Cherry
Of Mansfield; Drs. Tom Elliott, of So¬
cial Circle and AY. H. LaPrade, if
Oxford.
The outstanding feature was the or¬
ganizing of laymen’s activities.
Mr. A. Cliff Belcher, retiring lead
er, was succeeded by Mr. Sidney Stem
bridge, of Milledgeville.
The delegates found a gracious hos¬
pitality in the Covington homes and
were entertained at a barbecue Friday.
The occasion brought together about
400 people and the social side was de
lightfully pleasing.
The coming of the conference was a
blessing to the Methodist church and
Covington at large.
The 1924 session has been invited to
Eatonton.
The delegates elected to annual N.
Georgia conference, convening in At¬
lanta this fail were Misses Florrie Har¬
well, Helen Williams and Mrs. J. E.
Philips.
NEWTON COUNTY
GIRLS CONTEST AT
A. & M. SCHOOL
Misses Pansy Ewings, Mt. Zion,
Irene Eddlernian. Flint Hill, Mary
Ruth Brooks, alternate, Flint Hill, and
Ruth Meadors, High Point, left Mon¬
day afternoon for Monroe to attend
the District Bread contest at the A.
& M. school.
Three breads are included in the
contest, biscuits, muffins and light
bread.
Three of the girls are eligible, the
fourth goes as an alternate.
During their stay, entertainment
was provided by Mrs. Henry Walker.
Misses Mary Norman, Lula Edwards
and Etta Colclough were among the
Home Agents in attendance.
Miss Colclough. as bread specialist of
State College of Agriculture was pre
sent in the capacity of judge.
PASTOR, CHAMPION
TOMATO GROWER
Dr. W. B. Dillard, pastor of the First
Methodist church is the champion to¬
mato grower of this section.
If any can “show cause whereby”
that he does not deserve the honor, we
respectfully request that it be made
known by saying “I” and deliver the
goods for identification.
J. E. ODUM INJURED AT PICNIC
Covington friends will regret that
•Tames Bdward Odum was injured in
a fall, while attending a picnic near
Atlanta, Tuesday.
Mr. Odum is prominently connected
with the landscape department of
Dahls' Floral company.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. R.
Odum.
Sunday Morning—
Methodist church
W. B. Dillard, Pastor.
Subject—“Baseball and Religion”
All tans on both sides are invited.
piece of old junk. The state will not
be troubled with us many more years.
Those of us who were twenty years old
when we joined the army in 1861, are
away up in our eighties now.
The editor of The Constitution’s fa¬
ther was a Confederate soldier, and I
understand he made a good soldier, but
I think if he were to see the editorial
written by his son, he would turn over
in his grave.
I have always prized very highly, the i
little bronze cross bestowed upon me
by the good Daughters of the Confed¬
eracy, of Covington, for my record in
that war—but when we are sent to the
discard heap by my state, it will no
longer be an object of appreciation
no longer will I care to meet my fellow
veterans in reunion or on Memorial
Day. And when we are dead and bur¬
ied, let them write upon the head and
foot-boards of our graves the following
epitaph:—
“Here lies a poor old Confederate
Veteran. He stood four years as a bul¬
wark between Georgia and her ene¬
mies, battling for the rights of his be¬
loved State of Georgia. But in old age
his state that he had battled for in
his young manhood, though never un¬
worthy of appreciation, had sent him
to the junk pile. Farewell, may the
Lord give horn a crown of glory which
Will he appreciated hv he who lies here
more than he was appreciated by his
state which he served faithfully and
true.
JOHN W. LEE.
For Newton County and Her People.
COVINGTON, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1923.
JACKSON MAN
MRUTALLY MURDERED
It seems that horrible murders will
never cease.
Last Friday night, Mr. C. A. Pitt¬
man, who operated a ferry on the Oe
mulgee river, on the line of Butts and
Jasper counties, was murdered by
Evans McDowell, a negro 22 years of
age. Robbery was the motive of the
slayer, who knocked the old man in
the head with an ax and terribly mutil¬
ating his body in other places. The
body was found the next morning in
the river.
The negro was soon caught and
Placed in jail and has confessed his
crime. He was soon indicted by the
grand jury and the trial will take
place in Jackson next Monday morning
Mr. Pittman had been operating the
Pittman ferry since 1918, and besides
this business, operated a store near the
landing. His home was about one half
mile from the ferry where he was
murdered. Living at his home were his
wife and daughter.
Mr. Pittman was 68 years of age,
and had many friends in Covington
who mourn the tragedy. The ferry
operated by him, had been under the
control of the Pittmans for about 100
years, and this comes to the present
generation as a blast of sadness.
There are left to mourn his death,
his wife; daughter, Mrs. Willie Ruth
Bankston, who was residing with him
and five sons, J. T., of Covington; E
L. and D. S., of West Palm Beach, Fla
C. M. of Jackson and A. E. Pittman,
of Wilmington, N. C.; a brother, J. C.
Pittman, of Tampa, Fla; and a sister.
Mrs. W. E. Cantrell, of Atlanta.
NEGRO ADMITS ROBBING
AND KILLING JACKSON
MAN, OFFICERS SAY
Jackson, Ga., July 24.—Evans Mc¬
Dowell, the Jasper county negro con¬
fined in the Atlanta tower in connec¬
tion with the robbery and murder of
A. C. Pittman, near Jackson. Friday
night is said to have made a full and
complete confession to officers Mon¬
day night. According to officers M< -
Dowell confessed that he robbed and
murdered Mr. Pittman and threw his
body into the river, and that he had
no accomplices. Officers state McDow¬
ell made a clean breast of the entire
affair.
The matter will be investigated by
the grand jury now in session during
the day. It is expected the trial will
commence next Monday, when criminal
cases will be heard. A quick trial and
swift justice will be meted out to the
guilty party or parties, according to
court officials.
DID CHRIST LOVE JUDAS?
If you do not know whether Christ
loved all of the twelve disciples, or
have an idea that one was an outcast
so far as Jesus’s love was concerned
and only eleven were really close to the
Savior, you will have the opportunity
to be enlightened on this subject next
Sunday morning at the Baptist Sun¬
day School, when the debate by Mr.
J. I. Guinn, negative, and Mr. P. L.
Lindsey, affirmative, takes place. Sub¬
ject. Resolved "That Christ Did Not
Love Judas.”
Each of the gentlemen will have a
limited period to interest those present.
WHY NOT HAVE A
BUY AT HOME CLUB
A family may patronize the mail
order houses for years—-may send them
during that time hundreds of dollars
—and at the same time they would'nt
accommodate this family for a two
cent stamp. This is the plain unadul¬
terated truth. If you think different
try it for yourself and see. These out
of town houses do not know you—do
not care to know you—are not interest¬
ed in you in any way—only in the
money you send them. Spend y ur
money with your home merchant, who
knows you and who will trust you in
time of need, who appreciates your
worth, your business, be it ever so
small and your assistance in keeping
money in Newton county where it
justly belongs.
Why don't some housewife start a
home buying club. We have a num¬
ber of the prominent ladies in this
community, that are interested in a
number of buy out-of-town clubs. Why
not reverse this, try it, you will find
it worth your while; we will help you
organize a club, not a club of ten, but
a co-operative community club.
Mrs. G. C. Leach, who recently un¬
derwent an operation at the Georgia
Baptist hospital is improving, much to
the pleasure of Covington friends. Mr.
Leach, who is with Heard Bros, was
constantly at the bedside of his wife
during the ordeal. It is hoped Mrs.
Leach w ill soon be able to return home.
! GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOLDING DOWN
APPROPRIATIONS
Atlanta, Ga. July 26.—It has been
many a year since Georgia had a legis¬
lature which was so seriously determin¬
ed, as the present General Assembly is,
to hold down appropriations.
The appeals from different depart¬
ments for more money is falling on
ears which may be sympathetic but
so far the sympathy is chiefly for the
taxpayer, as it should be, according to
some of the leading members of the as¬
sembly.
The exposure of the great growth in
expenses of recent years has been
widely published in the newspapers and
the people, say many lawmakers are
demanding rigid economy.
As a rule, legislation is shaped bv
the committees. Many a trick has been
put over in the past by complicent
cemmittees. This year, the committees
are hard-boiled when it comes to spend¬
ing money.
It seems to be generally understood
that it will be bad politics to boost
larger appropriations this summer.
Thanks to the newspapers and especi¬
ally the weeklies, the people are watch¬
ing the expenses because large appro¬
priations mean higher taxes, it is point¬
ed out her*.
In connecton with the bill which has
been introduced to repeal the law which
created the new class of pensioners, it
is stated that while there are 17,000
on the state’s pension rolls, there are
less than 7,000 Confederate veterans
still living in Georgia.
NEWTON COUNTY GIRLS
WIN BREAD CONTEST
The district bread making contest
Which took place at the Eighth Dist. A.
& M, school, Monroe, this week, was
won by the Newton county girls, over
six counties of the Eighth District.
The Newton girl’s team was com¬
posed of Misses Pansey Ewing, Sallie
Ruth Meadors, Irene Eddleman, Marv
Ruth Brooks.
Walton county came second, and
Clarke was third.
A commendable spirit was evidenced
by the defeated, when they congratu¬
lated Miss Mary Norman and her suc¬
cessful team, giving vociferous yells
in honor of the triumph.
The winners will go to the South¬
eastern Fair in Atlanta in October, to
enter the state contest, two teams be¬
ing selected there to compete at the
National bread-baking contest to h«
held in Chicago later in the fall.
MESSRS. EYEKETT AND
ST H AY ELL ATTEND
FURNITURE DISPLAY
Messrs. II. E. Everitt and W. F.
Stillwell spent last week in attendance
upon the annual furniture exhibits
at High Point, N. C.
The trip was made by automobile
and they were greatly impressed by
the progressive Good Roads spirit pre¬
vailing throughout North Carolina and
Tennessee.
The business trip was concluded by
a visit to the Fulton home in Johnson
City, where they joined Mrs. Stillwell
and little daughter, Elizabeth.
FISHING CLUB GIVE BARBECUE
An event of the past week was a
barbecue given by the Covington Fish¬
ing Club, out at Alcovy river. Barbe¬
cue, stew and delicious coffee were
served in abundance.
Mr. Fred Ewing prepared the “cue”
to the consistency of all that is appe¬
tising and satisfying.
The gallant waiters of the occasion
were Messrs. Robt. Vining, O. M.
Neeley, Eugene Bouehillon and Geo.
C. Watson.
They were all things to all guests
and the two hundred fifty participants
went home happy and well content.
The out-of-town guests attending
were Judge Jno. B. Hutcheson, Solicit¬
or Claude C. Smith of the Stone Moun¬
tain circuit, and Mrs. J. R. Cook, of
Cleveland, Ohio.
UNCLIMABLE FENCE
FOR LAKEWOOD PARK
A new $22,500 wire fence of the un
climable type will soon encircle the
grounds of the Southeastern Fair and
Lakewood Park.
At a recent meeting of the directors
of the Fair Association, the officers
were authorized to receive bids and to
let a contract for the complete fencing
of the grounds, and Tuesday. J. Oscar
Mills, president, and R. M. Striplin,
secretary signed a contract with one
of the big wire companies for the erec¬
tion of the fence.
The contract calls for its completion
by October 1, before the opening of the
Southeastern Fair this fall.—Atlanta
Georgian.
GRAND JURY
This Term in Session Six
We, the Grand Jury selected, chosen
and sworn, for the July Term, bring
the following presentments:
We recommend that the Grand Jury
bailiff be paid $3.00 per day.
We recommend that our Solicitor
General direct instructions to each J. P.
in matter of making a memorandum on
each warrant and not permit warrants
reach grand jury over their signatures
until this is done, thus saving quite an
amount of the grand jury’s time.
We recommend that County Com¬
missioners offer a reward of $100.00
for the capture of one J. C. Chapman,
who broke jail recently.
We call special attention to law re¬
ferring to disposition of dead animals,
as it is directly against the law to
leave carcases unburied.
We find our jail in bad condition
and respectfully suggest that our
Sheriff secure a lock for outside door,
and that a steel or iron door be secured
for cellar, to take place of wooden door
now in use. That roof on porch be
painted. And that sufficient supply of
disinfectants be secured and used, as
well as bed bug poison be secured and
used. Also that a bath tub be secured
for white prisoners.
We recommend that the Commission¬
ers permit the white ladies of Newton
county use the room known as the
Grand Jury room, for cooking demon¬
strations and othr similar purposes.
Owing to the stringency of finances,
we respectfully recommend that the
County Commissioners use the pauper
farm for raising vegetables, hogs and
other food products for feeding the
convicts.
We commend his honor, Judge Jno.
B. Hutcheson, for his efficency and
business-like way of conducting the
court and thank our able and genial
Solicitor, Honorable Claude C. Smith
for his assistance to this body.
We recommend that these present¬
ments be published in The Covington
News, and that $10.00 be paid for
s&niG.
R. R. FOWLER, Foreman.
J. W. HARWELL, Clerk,
H. Y. SMITH, Asst. Clerk.
Whereupon, it is ordered, that these
presentments be published as thereon
requested and that these presentments
he placed on the minutes of this Court
as by law required.
By the Court—
JOHN B. HUTCHESON, Judge
Superior Court, Stone Mountain Cir¬
cuit.
CLAUDE C. SMITH, Solicitor
General.
Convictions This Term
Newton County Superior Court had
a light docket for this session, only
lasting six days. Judge Hutcheson de¬
liberated with dispatch as each case
came before the court.
Most of the cases tried, were for
liquor dealing and gun play. Below’
is the list of convictions for this term:
Buck Aiken, using another man as
a target, but missing his mark, drew
two years in the county gang.
Will Little confessed up as to his
guilt of selling liquor, and he was giv¬
en a vacation from his duties, as a
guest of the county gang for 10 months
Chief Collins, another dispenser of
white lightning, was tendered 12
months on the gang.
Rich Ashley, another bad nigger, was
invited to pay a fine of $75 for parti¬
cipating in a shooting affair.
Eugene Martin was carrying around
with him some moonshine on the hip,
and so he was permitted to spend six
months on the gang.
Dan Childers, a white man, let his
automobile “shimmy” around and the
officers deemed him a reckless driver
so he paid $25 for the ride.
Paul Bailey was brought up to an¬
swer the charge of associating with a
quantity of liquor, and at the end of
the investigation, it cost him $60.
Lois Henderson, a colored girls, w’as
brought up for spending late hours in
the woods, and she pleaded guilty to
the charge, so the court said she would
have to visit the camp for 12 months,
however he would suspend the sen¬
tence for 24 hours. This means she
will have ample time to leave the town
and that will end it, but if she stays,
she will be obliged to keep company
with the zebra boys.
Joe Hightower went out joy riding,
using his neighbors car without per¬
mission. The little ride cost him $35.
Branham Guthrie found his way
over into his neighbor’s corn field, a
temptation was such that about 50c
worth of roasting ears got into his
pockets, and from the fine he drew, it
must be fine. He paid $40.
Jack Henderson, charged with selling
liquor, w’as found guilty and will spend
12 merry months on the gang.
Robert Lee, possibly tired of loafing
and wanting to be patriotic and help
build the roads will try the gang for
12 months for selling liquor.
Zack Perry w’as found guilty for ac¬
cepting" money for liquor, and will try
road work for 8 months.
Charlie Gaither, a negro that carries
a broad smill and presses for the Gober
Barber shop, w’as rounded up, and came
very near moving his residence out to
the camp. After the trial, the jury
could not agree as to him selling liquor,
and he will have to go all over it again.
FOR SALE—Six pigs. $3.00 apiece.
For sale or to put out on halves.
D. K. HICKS lt-c
$1.50 Per Year In Advance
CITIZENS OF COVINGTON
IT IS UP TO YOU
There is a limit of endurance to ap /
thing with w’hich individuals or peo; e
as a whole have to contend, and s
time goes on .when unrest is evide l
among conservative people, when bu -
ness conditions are not what th 7
should be, then it is that they instin -
ively begin to cast about for sor. a
method by w’hich the wrong may t a
righted.
In this connection, three of the mer -
bers of the recent Grand Jury f
Newton County handed us the folio -
ing note, which is evidence of the fa :
that they are anxious to see some mo :
for the betterment of business in Ne -
ton county:
Covington, Ga. July 23, 1923
W. E. Lightfoot, Editor News,
Dear Sir:-
We respectfully call your atte -
tion to the issue of July 21, 1923, Cou -
try Gentleman, referring to Turner
county, and ask your consideration.
Yours truly,
R. R. Fowler, Foreman
J. W. Harwell, clerk
H. Smith, Asst, cler;
The article the gentlemen ha
reference to is a long one, and we re¬
gret that from lack of space we canne:
reproduce it, and w’hile it leaves note
ing out, many similar things have a.
ready been printed.
The article in part says: “There wo a
a board of trade at Ashburn, compose 1
of local business men. Like most such
organizations in small towns, having
failed to attract pay-roll producing in¬
dustries, it had lapsed into inactivity.
Betts and Bishop proceeded to give
it a program. They declared that the
farm was Turner county’s one big re¬
source and that the board of trade’s
proper function was to exert every ef
fort to help make farming pay. They
carried their point. The need, as the
leaders saw it, was to put dairy cows,
hogs and hens on Turner County’s
farms, to help the farmers get on a self
supporting basis. The other desirable
things then would follow.”
In the prosperity program of Turner
county it was worked out on a basic
a one-horse farm of forty-seven ao ■■
10 acres in corn, velvet beans or No
Carolina peanuts; five acres in o
followed with peas or a hay crop; 1
acres in wheat, followed by Spau.i
peanuts; five to eight acres in cottor.
five in Spanish peanuts, watermellon
or divided with tobacco; three in sweet
potatoes and cane; twelve acres in per
manent pasture planted to carpet grass
Dallas grass and lespedeza; a good ga;
den; two to five milk cows; two gooc
brood sows and a flock of hens
Through their co-operative sales agen
cy, the first sale of hogs brought $5,000
The first co-operative chicken sale
brought in $125.00 and soon after at
another sale $1,100 was realized. From
the county the averaged shipment is
of two thousand dozen eggs weekly,
and 5,000 pounds of dressed poultry a
week. The output of the Ashburn
creamery doubled every month of its
fir*t year. By the beginning of 1923
it had reached a volume of 73,000
pounds of butter a month. It has be¬
come one of the three largest creamer¬
ies in the south, paying an average of
$30,000 a month to farmers. In the first
nineteen months of its existence it
paid out $262,110.83 to the farmers.
In the article we find what we have
already known for a number of years
—that a county agricultural agent is
the foundation the success of any
farming county. It says: “Two things
had been learned in Dallas county, Ala.
One was that a GOOD COUNTY
AGENT IS THEJ BEST MAINn
SPRING IN THE MACHINERY OF
ANY FARMING PROGRAM, the other
was that a successful dairy industry
is a matter of careful development. So
the first plan was to get the best coun¬
ty agent available.
Some counties in Georgia are taking
definite steps to improve agricultural
conditions, and where these efforts are
properly directed, they are having a
telling effect, and out of what has ap¬
peared to be absolute ruination, is
springing up evidences of prosperity
and happiness to come.
What will Newton county do about
it?
BOYS OUT ON CAMP
Charles Elliott, Bradley Dillard and
Ralph Pennington with Dr. W. B.
Dillard are out at the Boy Scouts
Lodge this week, enjoying a carefree,
happy time, all by their lonesome.
It is predicted, however, that the
near-by neighbors will come to the res¬
cue many and oft the times in the
way of wholesome edibles.
Mr. H. D. Terrell, left Tuesday for
Cordele.
